38MC

5 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Yes, it’s generally always Rangers and Celtic. But monopolies and duopoly’s are not unique to Scotland. The “competitiveness” of the Premier League is a myth.

So much so the marketing department has  made it a ‘race to fourth’.

There’s something quite likeable about Spurs fans turning their nose up at fourth place and the consequences just so their rivals would miss out on a title. 

I dunno. The Championship is the same, it’s dull and predictable. We’re always effing mid table. 

7 minutes ago, stephenkibby. said:

The Premier League will vote to keep it despite the vast majority of fans hating VAR.

They sound like Millwall fans. No likes it we don't care. Pathetic, fans count for **** all.

Agree. I can’t see this reaching the threshold, yet. But if not I’m sure it will be put to the vote again if VAR does not improve.  

I would hope by then that there would be the Independent Football Regulator with enough clout to make Club’s feel compelled to vote based on the wishes of the fans in a similar vote; not a boardroom vote. 

14 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

And we have still to see how the new TV deal will play out.

Shocking decision by the club.

I agree it’s a shocking decision. Hopefully fans realise that twice you can not put the ticket on the ticket exchange and 10 times you can put it on the exchange. So you only need drag them to 11 games. 

Shockingly drafted by the lawyer who probably missed an ‘And/or’. ‘Don’t put it on the exchange twice’ but still ‘can use the ticket exchange 10 times’  

3 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Absolutely - but higher up the pyramid he was caught out by quick and agile strikers. Flint has the turning circle of a articulated lorry.

Opposition teams soon worked out that high balls into the box were likely to headed or wellied clear and so attacked using speed and quick feet. Flint was left seriously exposed.

Complete revisionism. 

35 minutes ago, George Rs said:

With them supposedly prioritising POTD, wouldn’t it be safe to assume they are very optimistic about next season? 

If they prioritised potd and next season we just stuck around 12th-18th the entire season the attendance/atmosphere would plummet off a cliff. 

Surely prioritising it this way suggests they have optimism about our actual performance in the league next year? (I could be just reading into this too much) 

Could suggest a multitude of things, their feelings on LM, prepared for the summer window? I don’t really know but is certainly an interesting shift. 

Way too much. We’ll finish between 12th and 18th and they know it. 

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

That's what I mean, he is Group CEO- thinly spread.

Seems a bit of a choppy structure overall.

I think that’s cutting him far too much slack. It’s hardly a FTSE100 multinational. On a revenue basis it’s actually a pretty small group. He should be well informed. 

I’ve been as critical of Manning as most, and I own that I’ve said in the past he should be sacked many times after many games, but I’m humble enough that after being stuck by and delivering this run he does now deserve the chance to take us into the next season. 

I still wouldn’t give him the kitchen sink in the transfer window, and I’m not yet eating humble pie, but just humble enough to admit by hook or crook he’s answered his critics somewhat over these recent run of results and undoubtedly improved performances (albeit from a very low bar). 

If I was to give it a real life scenario, he’s just got to his end of probation period in a new job and he’s shown enough towards the end that rather than release with a week’s notice, you’d extend probation - the jury is still out. 

2 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Fair. Mixture of hoping for us to gain the best advantage, mixture of thinking reciprocation is a good thing. Offset by the financials sure but they really annoy me

Hopefully they'll go down anyway. Huddeddieod away could be a decider for both albeit the negative there is it is one less nearish away game.

I could understand it if there was any home advantage at Ashton Gate, but there isn't really in my opinion. It's sterile, the atmosphere is poor, we are constantly outsung as a result of design decisions (placement of away fans, placement of the safe standing area) apathy and a changing demographic of who goes to football. Take the money I say, unless/until the factors that contribute to a poor atmosphere are corrected. 

23 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

No way will Bowen start a game at the Euros.  

I agree, but under Southgate I don’t think Palmer starts either. And if you’re looking for a super sub, I’d actually probably lean towards Bowen. Palmer is most likely to be a like-for-like change, whereas Bowen will bring a bit of unpredictability. 

I’d be much more concerned about losing James than I would Williams. I rate them both, I don’t believe Williams is crocked, and I appreciate he’s coming in to his prime, I just think our squad is better off and on the pitch with James right now if we only had the choice of the two. 
 

edit: that said I’m surprised we’d even have a choice. In either of their shoes I’d go as a free agent and get a nice signing on fee. 

5 minutes ago, Corkonian said:

Mate, it's a tough call. I say we aim for a mix of both: go for results to keep the momentum, but also give the young guns a chance to shine.

To some extent. But you’ve got to respect the ‘pfft’ integrity of the league.

Just now, Silvio Dante said:

What day is it….

I’m sure a fake. Nothing on efl website and this wouldn’t just drop as news surely 

What’s probably getting lost in the maelstrom of opinions, and I say this as someone very vocally Manning out so probably a bit of praise hunting here, look we’re all willing to give praise and credit where it’s due. 

now I’ll hunt some face palms but the Pearson out brigade weren’t quite so generous - Ian looking at you 

Really enjoyable game of football. We played well and gave a good account of ourselves. I think we were fortunate to get 3 points, there were more than a few moments where I couldn’t believe they never scored, but equally Conway gave their defence a beating. Definitely felt like a game that could have been 2-2, but Vardy left his shooting boots at home whilst Max was outstanding. Really hard fought win, lots of commitment and much more direct play. More of that please. 

4 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Judging from his presser he definitely wants to stay around but hasn’t heard anything yet. He’s doing his A badge which partly involves Manning introducing him to what managers/ coaches do when involved in the footballing side of the club - it’s a lot more complicated than what the players do

I don’t think he wants to learn from manning any more than you do 

he’s worked under some very good managers. Someone from Oxford who actually achieved nothing, or failed at MK Dons, who blames players who tries to implement tactics totally chalk and cheese to the squad he’s inherited, I really I doubt he’s listening to or wants to learn from. His future career would be best served from not learning from a manager that his own ‘Teknical’ director admits is learning on the job

17 minutes ago, East End Old Boy said:

As tomorrow is Good Friday, CHRIST, what a sad thread!

It’s so bad and sad isn’t, but equally, relatable. That’s what is so disappointing. It would be lovely to to lay into someone who is posting this, but I just don’t feel that I can. We are at that low an ebb. It’s such a bitter and toxic thread to discuss, but it’s totally reasonable. And this is after an international break when thoughts can and should settle. 
 

I feel like the crowd is going ready to bay for blood. And that’s so sad. The team is coming out knowing that the crowd is really ready to very obviously turn their thumbs down 

Such a sad situation that people are turning up knives sharpened and discussing what negative songs we can sing rather than hoping to support our side to victory. 

I’m not saying this as some pious arse, I also wonder whether I’m calling Jon, Steve, Brian or Liam a Colin, it’s just so sad on reflection that self destruct was hit so badly. 

im not facepalming you even though in normal circumstances I would. 

2 hours ago, Cole Not Gas said:

Watching his 3 pre-match interviews tonight makes it clear he wants to; play and coach for years to come, he really respects Liam as much as many others have come out and said, he finds numerous positives in recent months, acknowledge the detailed understanding that now exists about opponents, beat Leicester for the club and for us fans.

I think this is one of the better pre-match briefings we've seen in the last few years - do you agree?

No. Now go tell your boss. 

4 hours ago, ashton_fan said:

I think Nige's health was an issue in so much as he wasn't feeling great and probably said some things he would have normally kept to himself when he was ok, and as a result his relationship with the owners was broken.

Quite possibly, and maybe the club felt as whole he couldn’t fulfil the duties expected of him. What I don’t believe is that this was a mutual agreement.

25 minutes ago, reddogkev said:

fwiw, I still believe that Pearson was released mainly due to his health situation, but the club agreed to keep this out of the media due to respecting his privacy wishes.  I've heard that from quite a few people and it stacks up with the fact NP isn't straight back into management, and probably won't be for a while longer. 

They were itching to sack him. Pearson was agitating for a new contract! 

10 minutes ago, Out of his pie crust said:

Why do you think I renewed? Exactly the same reasons. Just because I renewed early doesn’t mean I’m in bed with them or think they can run a club well, they patently don’t. I go there to see friends and support the team. When people renew is up to them, and for what it’s worth in my opinion waiting to the end then renewing which some may choose to do and is fine won’t send much of a message. Protesting visibly in the ground at the clubs hierarchy might be better ?

I’d rather do both: I have nothing to gain by paying before the final day (if I even then chose to), I’ve got nothing to lose either. They might have some very sleepless nights and be forced to consider though. 

4 minutes ago, WolfOfWestStreet said:

He has personal friends who are employed by Bristol Sport who have worked there a long time. 

Like father like son 

21 minutes ago, luke_bristol said:

I’m 41 so this isn’t really aimed at me, but it feels like a wind-up that got out of hand.

Could you imagine Zak speaking to Nige and saying ‘by the way gaffer me and the Lansdown’s are going to bring out a new range of clothes which I’m going to front called ‘“onyego”

Zak would wake up two weeks later with a very fat lip